Given the band’s original riot-grrl associations, its connection with the queer community, the political bent of its biggest single, “Standing In The Way Of Control,” and frontwoman Beth Ditto’s outspoken reputation, it’s tempting to assign Gossip more depth than it really demands. A dance-punk act that’s always put more emphasis on the “dance” side of the equation, Gossip has been moving steadily in the direction of European discos over the course of its last two albums, with Ditto’s bluesy howl becoming more likely to accompany synths and 808s rather than Brace Paine’s guitar or Hannah Blilie’s drums. Though Rick Rubin seemed like an inspired choice to marry the band’s competing hyphenates, 2009’s Music For Men was an overly glossed affair that flirted with outright anonymity. Bringing in British producer Brian Higgins, who’s produced for girl groups like Sugababes and Girls Aloud, for the new A Joyful Noise signals that Gossip has little interest in setting aside its dance-pop objective. (Or perhaps that’s just Ditto, who released a heavily disco-influenced solo EP in 2011.)